Kruse Schiller Motorsport - Doing It The Old Fashioned Way

There are plenty of big budget LMP teams up and down the LMS pitlane - and there are still a few, a very few, that do it the old fashioned way.

Kruse Schiller Motorsport are one of the latter - bringing their immaculately prepared Lola back for more in 2010 after a very trying 2009 season.

The Paul Ricard test saw no fewer than 5 drivers try out the now Judd-engined #39 car:

    * Hideki Noda from Japan, the ex F1 man has been a regular driver for KSM since the team was founded in 2008.
    * Jean de Pourtales - another KSM regular having raced in LMS rounds and the 24h of Le Mans in 2008 and 2009 
    * Jonathan Hirschi - 2nd in the 2009 Renault Megane Supertrophy and 2010 Hexis GT1 World Championship man.
    * Stéphane Lemeret FIA GT regular
    * Valentin Hummel, an 18 year old newcomer from Germany.

KSM have already announced that they will go into the 2010 season with Jean de Pourtales and Hideki Noda with the team still to decide on a third driver.

So with the 2010 season plan coming together nicely it seemed the right time to ask KSM team owners Kai Kruse and Hardy Schiller a little bit about the background to their team:

Where and when did you meet Hardy and how did KSM come about?

Kai Kruse:

"One day Hardy came into my old workshop, interested in some drive for the VLN, which we did then with a BMW M3. So we went to a test and really it started from there. This was 4 years ago now.  We have a very similar understanding about the business and about racing. It is not always the same but you also never agree with your wife 100%.

Hardy is so experienced about racing.  He did superbike endurance WC, and many VLN and 24h races at the Ring and also he is a clever businessman which helps me a lot.  On the other hand I believe he is always open to listening to new ideas so we seem to always end with good decisions."

Hardy Schiller: 

"I was a neighbour with my company to Kai´s old team and saw the VLN BMW outside at some point so I decided to visit them because I had raced in the VLN with an ex DTM E30 M3 and had a good time there and was thinking about going back to race there again.

"At first I got the impression Kai didn't take me seriously but after I told him if he wanted to do a deal he should make me an offer, otherwise I would go somewhere else....  The rest is history."

And how do you and Hardy split team duties?

HS:

"Everyone has his strong points in different areas, so we leave those that apply to each other to save time.  On the other hand, the really important, elemental things we decide together - That can take a while sometimes!"

KK:

"Basically we both know what´s going on with everything.  I`m thankful to have such a partner."

What can you tell us about the history of the team's Lola?

KK:

"It is the ex Fernadez Lola Acura which we bought from them at the start of 2008. We regularly keep it updated and we have a great level of support from the Lola factory."

HS:

"It is a very robust car and, with the rules heading where they are, it seems it´s end is nowhere near. We think it can still be quick and will do all we can to show it is still a very competitive car."
 
Hideki has been part of the team for a while - How did that happen?

KK:

"It came end of 2007 when Hideki was looking for a drive in the Le Mans Series after he won the Japanese Le Mans Series in a P1.  So we talked for a while and when Hardy and I met him the first time in 2008 at Lola we know he would fit well to our team."

HS:

"He is very disciplined, quick and, for his age, very motivated - a real pro. We build up a good relationship over the years and we all are looking for to get the results we believe we deserve. We are very happy to have him on board!"
 
We know you were looking to buy a Lola Coupe a while ago - how close did you come to that?

KK:

"What I want to say that we of course always look around and check out the available options but we believe the open Lola is a very competitive car.  Aside from that I have to say that, for me, a sportscar has to be open...  So in the end a coupe was never a realistic option by KSM."
 
What can you tell us about the Mazda engine from last year - Was it a total disaster or were there some good points?

HS:

"I could give a long explanation here but I think when you look to the results - not only by us - than you get the realistic picture I believe."
 
And why did you opt for the Judd rather than other alternatives?

KK:

"Basically we looked into all options. That includes to carry on with Mazda, Zytek and also Acura, remember that engine was in our chassis before. And to be honest the Judd option was not our favoured one in the beginning.  But all that turned around and I have to say that I am very pleased to be back with John and his team. We know each other for a while now so you know what you get and that is a reliable powerful, nice looking and good sounding engine."

HS:

"I am disappointed about one offer by a competitor because, in the end, for that budget, you can run a LMP1 engine!

"I'm thankful to see the engine cost cap in P2 next year, we are close to it anyway. But what others are probably spending in P2 for engine costs this year is similar to the Porsche factory effort in 2008 and 2009.  For me that shouldn`t be possible in P2."
 
What about the highlights for KSM so far?

HS:

"We are still waiting for the big one! But there were some which are not automatically linked to results.

"The 6th in class at Monza 08 was good where we been 3rd quickest in the pits in front of Peugeot and one Joest Audi.

"To fix the car before the warm up in Le Mans 08 after the big shunt on Wednesday night - that made me really proud of our team.

"Also after the accident in Le Mans 09 where we fixed the whole left side in less than 1.5hrs.

"And performance-wise Spa last year where we had a great run for the first hours thanks to Hideki and our strategy where we were 3rd for a while. That makes us believe we can do it."

KK:

"For me the biggest highlight in total is that I am privileged to do what we do."

You were clearly very disappointed at not getting an LM entry this year - How big a blow is that for a team and why?

HS:

"It is very easy. For most driver Le Mans is THE highlight, so as soon you have the entry confirmed you can go for the LMS as well. If you don`t have it, it´s a tough fight. But we get used to over the years and we are fine. It is up to us to play that game or not so you also have to accept their decisions or you can walk away."
 
KK:

"For sure it is not easy for them to decide but if you are so loyal to them (next to RML and Pescarolo we are the only prototype team in LMS since 2005) and see other teams to have 2 or maybe 3 cars than this makes you quite disappointed. From a business point of you it is bad."

And what is the plan for 2010 and beyond?  Will we see KSM anywhere other than the LMS?

KK:

"Le Mans is what I love and I spent so much energy and time over the years so far I hope we won't leave that place as a loser at some point.

"Right now I believe we have enough power and performance for the future to get a good result there. If not we were not good enough - it's as simple as that. 

"I hope the ACO will make the future rules in that way, that we can carry on with what we have for a while - especially on the engine side - because the new rules they have talked about are not what I think will be cost saving, I believe it will prove to be the opposite. So right now it is "wait and see". But for sure we love to stay."

HS:

"On the other hand we love "the 'Ring" and if we find options may we go there in the future. You have to keep your eyes always wide open. Especially with all the economic influences around."